Atonement, Day of — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

ATONEMENT, Day of

Yom Kippur, the most important day in the religious calendar of Israel, falling on the 10th day of Tishri (the Hebrew month corresponding to mid-September through mid-October). On that day the high priest entered the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle (or temple) to atone for the sins of all Israel. The basic idea of atonement is a “covering” of sin; the purpose is to accomplish reconciliation between man and God. In the NT the Day of Atonement was referred to as the “fast” (Acts 27:9). To the rabbis, it was the “Day” or the “Great Day.”

Although many additional rites were added over the centuries, the basic description of the original Day of Atonement is Leviticus 16. Complex and detailed ceremonies all focused on the central objective of complete atonement by sacrifice. First, the high priest removed his official garments, made for beauty and glory, and clothed himself in white linen as a symbol of repentance as he went about the duties of the day. Next, he offered a bull calf as a sin offering for the priests and himself. That done, he entered the Holy of Holies with a censer of live coals from the altar of incense, filling the area with incense. He sprinkled the bullock’s blood on the mercy seat and on the floor before the ark of the covenant. Then he cast lots over two live goats brought by the people. He killed one of the goats as a sin offering for the nation, taking the blood inside the veil and sprinkling it as before, thus atoning even for the Holy Place. He confessed the sins of the nation over the live goat as he placed his hands on its head. Finally he sent the live goat, called the scapegoat (i.e., the escape goat), into the wilderness. Symbolically it carried away the sins of the people. Then the high priest clothed himself in his usual apparel and offered a burnt offering for himself and one for the people with the fat of the sin offering. Outside the camp the flesh of the bull calf and goat was burned.

Other OT references to the Day of Atonement include Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:26-32, giving the date in a list of all the annual feasts; Leviticus 25:9-16, stating that each jubilee year began on the Day of Atonement; and Numbers 29:7-11.

The Day of Atonement became so central to Judaism that it survived the destruction of the temple in AD 70 and the end of the sacrificial system. It is the highest holy day of Judaism today. Although nowhere in the books of Moses is there an explanation of “afflicting the soul” required on the Day of Atonement (Lv 23:27-32, KJB), the Jews have continuously interpreted it as referring to fasting (cf. Ps 35:13; Is 58:3-5, 10 OET ISA 58:3–5 · OET ISA 58:10). In biblical times, celebration of the Day of Atonement showed that Israel believed the cleansing of their sins was accomplished by the rites commanded by God. The forgiveness and grace of God were granted them and were the basis for their continued fellowship with God as his covenant people. Because it was designated as a sabbath of solemn rest (Lv 16:31; 23:32), all work was forbidden on that day as on the weekly observance of the Sabbath.

As with all the prescribed sacrifices throughout the year, the question arises as to the need for a special time for atonement. It is clear that the ritual was meant to avert God’s wrath for sins already committed as well as to guarantee the continued presence of God. The sacrifice of the first goat and the sending away of the scapegoat were intended to cleanse the nation, the priesthood, and the sanctuary from sin. The intent of the whole sacrificial system reached its highest expression on that day, called by some the “Good Friday of the OT.” The daily, weekly, and monthly sacrifices left something undone, so that the high priest could not enter the holiest place throughout the year. On that one day, however, he was permitted to enter with sacrificial blood as he solemnly represented the nation before the bloodstained mercy seat.

The Day of Atonement and the New Testament

In the NT the crucifixion account, many references in Paul’s epistles, and the whole book of Hebrews are inseparably connected to the Day of Atonement. The ritual of the day is explained as a “type” of the atonement made by Jesus Christ (Heb 9–10 OET HEB 9:1–28 · OET HEB 10:1–39). Christ, the High Priest, shed his blood on Calvary and then, having atoned for the world’s sins, appeared in heaven before the Father (Heb 9:11-12). Unlike the annual repetitions of the day in Israel, Christ’s atonement is seen in the NT as securing eternal redemption (Heb 9:12; see also Rom 3:25; 5:9-10; 1 Cor 5:7; 2 Cor 5:18-21; Gal 3:13-14; Col 1:14; Ti 2:14; 1 Pt 1:18-19; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10; Rv 5:9).

Show passage in OET: HEB 9:11–12

OET-RV HEB 9:11

11 But when Messiah came as high priest over what had now become good through the greater and more perfect tent of worship which wasn’t put together by people and isn’t part of this world,

OET-RV HEB 9:12

12 he went once-for-all into the holy places—not by the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood—obtaining eternal redemption for us.

OET-LV HEB 9:11

11 But chosen _one /messiah having _appeared as _chief _priest, of _the having _become good things, by the greater and more _perfect tent, neither of _handmade this is, not of _this the creation,

OET-LV HEB 9:12

12 nor by blood of _goats and calves, but through his own blood, he _came _in once _for _all into the holy places, eternal redemption having _found.

Show passage in OET: HEB 9:12

OET-RV HEB 9:12

12 he went once-for-all into the holy places—not by the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood—obtaining eternal redemption for us.

OET-LV HEB 9:12

12 nor by blood of _goats and calves, but through his own blood, he _came _in once _for _all into the holy places, eternal redemption having _found.

Show passage in OET: ROM 3:25

OET-RV ROM 3:25

25 who God placed on the altar as a sacrifice for sin. This happens through faith in his blood, which was a sign of his sinlessness.
¶ (God hasn’t yet judged those who sinned in the past,

OET-LV ROM 3:25

25 whom set _forth the god as_an_atonement, through the faith in the of _him blood, for a_sign of _the righteousness of _him, because _of the forbearance of _the having _previously _happened sins

Show passage in OET: ROM 5:9–10

OET-RV ROM 5:9

9 So now that we’ve been declared guiltless because of his blood, we’ll certainly be spared from his severe anger,

OET-RV ROM 5:10

10 because if we were reconciled to God through the death of his son while we were still enemies, now that we’ve been reconciled, how much more certain that we’ll be saved by Yeshua’s (Jesus’; Grk. Yesus’) life!

OET-LV ROM 5:9

9 Therefore by _much more having _been _justified now by the blood of _him, we _will _be _being _saved by him from the severe _anger.

OET-LV ROM 5:10

10 For/Because if enemies being, we _were _reconciled to_ the _god through the death of _the son of _him, by _much more having _been _reconciled, we _will _be _being _saved by the life of _him.

Show passage in OET: CO1 5:7

OET-RV CO1 5:7

7 Get rid of the old yeast so that you’ll all become fresh dough, just as you are unleavened bread. Because Messiah, our Passover lamb, has also been sacrificed

OET-LV CO1 5:7

7 Clean _out the old leaven, in _order _that you _all _may _be a_new lump, as you _all _are unleavened.
For/Because also the passover_feast of _us was _sacrificed, chosen _one /messiah.

Show passage in OET: CO2 5:18–21

OET-RV CO2 5:18

18 Everything is from God, the one who reconciled us to himself by Messiah and who has given the ministry of reconciliation to us.

OET-RV CO2 5:19

19 God was in Messiah reconciling the world to himself, not listing their sins against them, and having given the message of reconciliation to us.

OET-RV CO2 5:20

20 Because of that, we are ambassadors for Messiah, as though God is encouraging others through us, so we implore you for Messiah: Make your peace with God.

OET-RV CO2 5:21

21 God took the one who hadn’t experienced sin and made him into sin for us so that in him, we could become not guilty in God’s sight.

OET-LV CO2 5:18

18 And the things all of the god, the one having _reconciled us to _himself by chosen _one /messiah, and having _given to _us the service of_ the _reconciliation,

OET-LV CO2 5:19

19 how that god was in chosen _one /messiah the_world reconciling to _himself, not counting to _them the transgressions of _them, and having _put in us the message of_ the _reconciliation.

OET-LV CO2 5:20

20 For/Because Therefore chosen _one /messiah we _are _being _ambassadors, as _though the god exhorting through us, we _are _beseeching for chosen _one /messiah, be _reconciled to_ the _god.

OET-LV CO2 5:21

21 The one not having _known sin, because/for us sin he _made, in _order _that we may _become the_righteousness of_god in him.

Show passage in OET: GAL 3:13–14

OET-RV GAL 3:13

13 The messiah saved us from the law’s curse by becoming the curse for our sake, because it’s written, ‘anyone who’s hung on a tree is cursed’.

OET-RV GAL 3:14

14 He paid the price for us so that the blessing for Avraham would also reach the non-Jews through the messiah Yeshua and we’d all be able to receive the spirit through faith.

OET-LV GAL 3:13

13 chosen _one /messiah redeemed us from the curse of _the law, having _become a_curse for us, because it _has _been _written:
Cursed is everyone which having _hanged on a_tree,

OET-LV GAL 3:14

14 in _order _that the blessing the of _Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām) may _become to the pagans in chosen _one /messiah of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), in _order _that we _may _receive the promise of _the spirit through the faith.

Show passage in OET: COL 1:14

OET-RV COL 1:14

14 the one who buys us out of slavery and forgives our sins.

OET-LV COL 1:14

14 in whom we _are _having the redemption, the forgiveness of_ the _sins,

Show passage in OET: TIT 2:14

OET-RV TIT 2:14

14 who gave himself for us in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify us into his chosen people, eager to do good things.

OET-LV TIT 2:14

14 who gave himself for us, in _order _that he _may _redeem us from all lawlessness, and may _purify to _himself a_people chosen, zealous of _good works.

Show passage in OET: PE1 1:18–19

OET-RV PE1 1:18

18 knowing that when you were in slavery due to your poor conduct that you inherited from your ancestors, you weren’t bought out of that by payment of things that decay like silver or gold,

OET-RV PE1 1:19

19 but by the precious blood of the messiah—the unblemished and spotless lamb.

OET-LV PE1 1:18

18 having _known that you _all _were _redeemed not by _perishable things, by _silver or by _gold, from the useless conduct of _you _all inherited _from _forefathers,

OET-LV PE1 1:19

19 but by_the_precious blood, of_chosen _one /messiah as of_a_lamb unblemished and spotless,

Show passage in OET: JN1 2:2

OET-RV JN1 2:2

2 and it’s him who is the atonement for our sins—not just our sins, but also the sins of the entire world.

OET-LV JN1 2:2

2 and he is the_atonement for the sins of _us, and not for the our sins only, but also for all the world.

Show passage in OET: JN1 4:10

OET-RV JN1 4:10

10 So this is real love, not us loving God, but God loving us and sending his son to be the sacrifice to clear us of the sentence from our sins.

OET-LV JN1 4:10

10 In this is the love, not that we have _loved the god, but that he loved us, and sent _out the son of _him, an_atonement for the sins of _us.

Show passage in OET: REV 5:9

OET-RV REV 5:9

9 They sung a new song like this:
⇔ “It’s you who’s worthy to take the scroll and break its seals,
⇔ because you were slaughtered and with your blood you purchased people for God
⇔ from every tribe and language and people group and nation.

OET-LV REV 5:9

9 And they _are _singing a_song new saying:
Worthy you _are to _take the scroll, and to _open _up the seals of _it, because you _were _slain, and bought to_ the _god us by the blood of _you, out _of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

Jump to OET HEB 9:11–12 section.

Jump to OET HEB 9:12 section.

Jump to OET ROM 3:25 section.

Jump to OET ROM 5:9–10 section.

Jump to OET CO1 5:7 section.

Jump to OET CO2 5:18–21 section.

Jump to OET GAL 3:13–14 section.

Jump to OET COL 1:14 section.

Jump to OET TIT 2:14 section.

Jump to OET PE1 1:18–19 section.

Jump to OET JN1 2:2 section.

Jump to OET JN1 4:10 section.

Jump to OET REV 5:9 section.

The underlying reason for the day was that other offerings for sin could not provide for unknown (“secret”) sins. Because of such sins the sanctuary, the land, and the nation remained ritually unclean. The Day of Atonement was instituted by God for the complete atonement of all sin (Lv 16:33). In the person of the high priest the nation was most fully represented by the access of their mediator into the very presence of God. See Atonement; Offerings and Sacrifices.